2013年6月英語四級真題試卷第三套

PartⅡReadingComprehension(SkimmingandSurvivingtheAmerica'srecessionbeganquietlyattheendof2007.Sincethenithasevolvedintoaglobalcrisis.Reasonablepeoplemaydisagreeaboutwhomtoblame.Financierswhowerenotascleverastheythoughttheywere?Regulatorsfallingasleepatwork?Consumerswhoborrowedtoomuch?Politicianswhothoughtlesslypromotedhome-ownershipforthosewhocouldnotaffordit?Allareguilty;andwhatamesstheyhavecreated.Since2007Americahasshed5millionjobs.Morethan15%oftheworkarejoblessorunderemployed—roughly25millionworkers.Theonlyindustriesswellingtheirpayrollsarehealthcare,utilitiesandthefederalernment.ThevalueoflistedsharesinAmericanfirmscollapsedby57%fromitspeakinOctober2007toalowinMarchthisyear,thoughithassincebouncedbacksomewhat.Industrialproductionfellby12.8%intheyeartoMarch,theworstslidesincetheSecondWorldWar.MarkZandi,aneconomistatMoody'sEconomy,com,predictsthattherecessionwillshrinkAmerica'seconomyby3.5%intotal.Formostexecutives,thisistheworstbusinessenvironmentthey'veeverseen.Timesaresotoughthatevenbossesaretakingpaycuts.Median(中位數(shù)的)payforexecutivesofS&P500companiesfell6.8%in2008.TheoverthrownbusinessgiantsofWallStreettookthebiggestknock,withaveragepaycutsof38%andmedianbonusesofzero.Buttherewassomepainforeveryone:medianpayforchiefexecutivesofnon-financialfirmsintheS&P500fellby2.7%.Nearlyeverybusinesshasasadtaletol.Forexample,ArneSorenson,theofMarriotthos,likensthecrisistothedownturnthathithisbusinessafterSeptember11th,2001.Whenthetwintowersfell,Americansstoppedtravelling.Marriotthaditsworstquarterever,withrevenuesperroomfallingby25%.Thisyear,withoutaterroristattack,thehoindustryis"puttingthesamenumbersontheboard",saysMrSorenson.Thehobust(不景氣),likemostbusts,wasprecededbyabreathtakingboom.Althoughmanyotherbigfirmsresistedthetemptationtoover-borrowdevelopersborrowedheavilyandbuiltbiggerandfancierhosasifthewholeworldwerenningaholidayinLasVegas.Whenthebubbleburst,demandcollapsed.Hoownersfoundthemselveswithahugenumberofemptyroomsevenasalotofunnecessarynewhoswerereadytoopen.Otherindustrieshavesufferedevenmore.Largenumbersofbuilders,propertyfirmsandretailershavegonebankrupt.AndadisasterhashitDetroit.LastyeartheAmericancarindustryhadthecapacitytomake17millionvehicles.Salesin2009couldbebarelyhalfofthat.TheBigThreeAmericancarmakers—GeneralMotors,FordandChrysler—accumulatedruinouscostsoverthepostwaryears,suchasgold-tedhealthnsandpensionsforworkerswhoretiredasyoungas48.Allthreearedesperayrestructuring.OnlyFordmaysurviveinitscurrentHardtimesbreedhardfeelings.FewAmericansunderstandwhatcausedtherecession.Someareseekingscapegoats替罪羊).Politiciansarehappytotakeadvantage.BosseshavebeensummonedtoWashingtontobescoldedonliveevision.Thecondemnstheirgreed.Extravagance(奢侈)isBusinessfolkarebendingoverbackwardstoavoidseemingextravagant.Meetingsatresortsaresuddenlyunacceptable.GoldmanSachs,aninvestmentbank,cancelledaconferenceinLasVegasatthelastminuteandrebookeditinSanFrancisco,whichcostmorebutsoundedlessfun.Anyway,thepainwilleventuallyend.Americanbusinesswillregainitsshine.Manyfirmswilldie,butthesurvivorswillemergeleanerandstrongerthanbefore.Thefinancialsector'sshareoftheeconomywillshrink,andstayshrunkforyearstocome.Theimportanceofnon-financialfirmswillaccordinglyrise,alongwiththeirabilitytoattractthebesttalent.Americawillremainthebestceonearthtodobusiness,solongasBarackObamaandtheDemocratsinCongressresistthetemptationtointerferetoomuch,andsolongasorganisedlabourdoesnotoveryitshand..beexposed.Necessitywilltheswiftadoptionofmoreefficientones.Atthesametime,technologicalinnovation(創(chuàng)新)willbarelypauseforbreath,andtwobigpoliticalchangesseemMrObama'sntocurbcarbondioxide(C02)emissions(排放),thoughnecessary,willbefarfromcost-,whateverhissunnyspeechesonthesubjectmightsuggest.Theshifttoalow-carboneconomywillhelpsomefirmshurtothersandrequireeveryorganisationthatusesmuchenergytorethinkhowitoperates.ItishardertopredicthowMrObama'sproposedreformstothefailinghealth-caresystemwillturnoutIfhesucceedsincurbingcosts—abigif—itwouldbeahugegainforAmerica.Somebusinesseswillbenefitbutthevastbulkofthesavingswillbecapturedbyworkers,nottheiremployers.Inthenextcoupleofyearsthebusinessesthatthrivewillbethosethataretightwithcosts,carefulofdebt,cautiouswithcashflowandextremelyattentivetowhatcustomerswant.Theywillincludeplentyofnamesnoonehasyetheardof.Curtice,thebossofGM.HisfirmwasleadingAmericatowards"aneweconomicorder",themagazinewrote.ThankstomenlikeCurtice,"thebondsofscarcity"hadbeenbrokenandAmericawasrolling"toanall-timehighofprosperity".Soon,Americanswouldneedtospend"comparativelylittletimeearningaliving".HalfacenturylaterGMisatypicalexampleofpoormanagement.InMarchitschiefexecutivecarindustry,lendingitmoneyandoverseeingitsturnaroundns.Withluck,thiswillbeshort-lived.ButthereisadangerthatWashingtonwillendupmicromanagingnotonlyDetroitbutalsootherpartsoftheeconomy.AndcleverasMrObama'sadvisersare,historysuggeststheywillbebadatthis.Fromthefirstparagraph,welearnthatAmerica'srecessionistheresultof amessyrealestateacombinationofunregulatedfinanciers'Attheworsttime,thetotalvalueoflistedsharesinAmericanfirmsshrankby 57%B)15%C)12.8%D)AccordingtoArneSorenson,theofMarriotthos,thecurrentrecession wastheworsthehadeverseensinceWorldWarreducedhisrevenuestoaquarterofnormalhithisbusinessashardasthe911terroristspoiledhisnstobuildmorehosinLasTheBigThreeAmericancarmakersneedrestructuringtosurvivebecause theirproductioncapacityhasshrunktolessthanhalfoftheprevioustheirtechnologyhasfallenbehindtheircompetitors'elsewhereinthetheyhaveborrowedtooheavilyandaccumulatedtoolargeamountsoftheycannotcopewiththeruinouscostsaccumulatedoverthepost-warGoldmanSachs,aninvestmentbank,cancelledaconferenceinLasVegasinorderto raiseitscutunnecessaryavoidseeminghavefuninSanTheauthorofthisreportseemstobe againsttoomuchernmentinterferenceintheoptimisticaboutObama'sefforttoreduceCO2interestedinpoliticalandeconomicconcernedabouttheinterestsoftheAccordingtotheauthor.Obama'sntolimitcarbondioxideemissionswill notbenefitAmerica'sbenefitthewholedogoodtothebynomeansbeBecauseHarlowCurtice'sfirmwasleadingAmericaincreating"aneweconomicorder",hewasnamedbyTimemagazineas in1955.InMarch,GeneralMotors'chiefexecutivewasfiredbyMr.Obamafor PartⅢListeningComprehensionThemanhatestolendhistoolstootherThemanhasn’tfinishedworkingontheThetoolshavealreadybeenreturnedtotheThetoolsthemanborrowedfromthewomanareSavetimebyusingaBuyherownBorrowMartha’sStayhomeandcompleteherThemandoesn’thavemoneyforhisdaughter’sgraduateThemandoesn’tthinkhisdaughterwillgetabusinessThemaninsiststhathisdaughtershouldpursueherstudiesinThemanadviseshisdaughtertothinkcarefullybeforemakingherThecinemaissomedistanceawayfromwheretheyHewouldliketoreadthefilmreviewintheTheyshouldwaittoseethemovieatalaterHe’llfindhiswaytotheHe’sbeentoSeattlemanyHehaschairedalotofHehasahighpositioninhisHelivedinSeattleformanyTeacherandDoctorandManagerandofficeTravelagentandSheknowstheguywhowillgivetheShethinksthelecturemightbeShewantstoaddsomethingtoherShe’llfinishherreportthisThehousesforsaleareofpoorThehousesaretooexpensiveforthecoupletoThehousingdevelopersprovidetripsforpotentialThemanisunwillingtotakealookatthehousesforQuestions19to21arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.HowtostudyEnglishWhichcoursestoHowtowritecomputerWhichbookstoPhysicalMathsandArtandElectronicsandcomputer-HerEnglishisverySheisinterestedinHerEnglishwritingisHeroralEnglishisQuestions22to25arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.ApplyingforaworkApplyingforapart-timeTakinganVisitinganoldStudentsinthefirsthalfoftheirStudentswhowillgraduateStudentsinthesecondhalfoftheirStudentswhohavejustgraduatedfromExintheprocedurestotheWorkregularWriteacomprehensiveSendareportaboutthewoman’sIntwoInthreeInthesecondhalfofherNotdecidedSectionPassageQuestions26to28arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustSyntheticSolarAirtrafficTrafficjamsonRoadNewtrafficGothroughahealthCarrylittleArriveearlyforUndergosecurityPassageQuestions29to32arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustInafast-foodAtashopAtacountyInaAvoideatinganyPreparetherighttypeofpietoWashhishandsPracticeeatingapieOntheBehindhisUnderhisOnhisLookingsidewaystoseehowfastyourneighborEatingfromtheoutsidetowardtheSwallowingthepiewithHoldingthepieintherightPassageQuestions33to35arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustHewantedtofollowthetraditionofhisHebelievedthatitsymbolizedaneverlastingItwasthoughtabloodvesselinthatfingerleddirectlytotheItwassupposedthatthediamondonthatfingerwouldbringgoodThetwopeoplecanlearnabouteachother’slikesandThetwopeoplecanhavetimetodecideiftheyareagoodThetwopeoplecanhavetimetoshopfortheirnewThetwopeoplecanearnenoughmoneyfortheirSectionInthecenterofabigcitythereareusuallydozensoflargeofficebuildingsthathousebigbanks,corporationheadquarters,andernment(36).Thousandsofpeopleworkinthesebuildings.Peoplewhodoalltheofficeworkarecalledwhite-collarworkers.(37) andreceptionists,bookkeepersandcomputeroperatorsworkformanydifferentkindsofcompanies.Manyofficeworkersdreamofworkingtheirwayuptothetop,fromclerkto(38) acorporation.Thewayliesthroughmiddlemanagement.Middlemanagementincludesjuniorexecutives,whomayfill(39) jobs,superviseotherworkersinthe(40) actiontotopmanagement,orseethatthe’spoliciesarebeingcarriedout.Attheveryaretheseniorexecutives.They(41) thepoliciesfortheirowncompanies,especially matters.TheChiefExecutiveOfficer,orCEO,ofalarge(43) hasagreatdealofpowerandinfluence. .Becausefinancialmattersaresoimportant,some etopexecutives.Incompanieswheretechnologyisimportant,peoplewithanengineeringbackgroundcanalsorisetothetop.Nowadays, .Universitiesinmanycountriesoffercoursesinadministration.Thegraduatesofthesecoursesoftenstartoutinmiddlemanagementjobs.Fromthere,(46) PartⅣReadingComprehension(ReadinginDirections:Inthissection,thereisapassagewithtenblanks.Youarerequiredtoselectonewordforeachblankfromalistofchoicesgiveninawordbankfollowingthepassage.Readthepassagethroughcarefullybeforemakingyourchoices.Eachchoiceinthebankisidentifiedbyaletter.PleasemarkthecorrespondingletterforeachitemonAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Youmaynotuseanyofthewordsinthebankmorethanonce.Questions47to56arebasedonthefollowingJustwhenyouhadfiguredouthowtomanagefatinyourdiet,researchersarenowwarningagainstanothercommonmealtimepitfall(陷阱)-salt.AstudybyresearchersattheUniversityofCalifornia,SanFrancisco(UCSF),StandfordUniversityandColumbiaUniversityshowsthatevena47decreaseindailysaltintake(攝入)canleadtodramatichealthbenefits.Theauthors48anannualdropofasmanyas120000casesofheartdisease,6600049ofstrokeand99000heartattacks50byhighbloodpressureaftera3-g-per-dayreductioninsalt.Theadvantages,notsurprisingly,weregreaterforAfricanAmericans,whoaremorelikely51highbloodpressurethanotherethnicgroups,andfortheelderly,sincebloodvesselsstiffenwithage,whichcanleadtohigherbloodpressure."EveryoneintheUSisconsumingsaltfarin52ofwhatisgoodforthem,"saysleadauthorDr.KirstenBibbins-DomingoofUCSF."Whatwearesuggestingisthatapopulation-wideefforttoreducesaltintake,even53willhavehealthbenefits."Theteamconductedacomputer-basedysistodeterminethe54ofa3-g-per-dayreductioninsaltintakeonratesofheartdiseaseanddeath.Theyalsocalculatedthecostsavingsemergingfromtheamountofdiseasethatwouldbe55becauseoflowerbloodpressure.Theconclusion:bycuttingsaltintakenationwide,theUScouldsave$10billionto$24billion56inhealthcarecosts.SectionDirections:Thereare2passagesinthissection.Eachpassageisfollowedbysomequestionsorunfinishedstatements.ForeachofthemtherearefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).YoushoulddecideonthebestchoiceandmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.PassageQuestions57to61arebasedonthefollowingTheGataisusedtofrownwhentheyreceivedpowerbillsthatroutinelytopped$200.LastSeptemberthecouplemovedintoa1500-square-foothomeinGardens,asubdivisionof95"zero-energyhomes"(ZEH)justoutsidetown.Nowthey'reactuallyeagertoseetheirelectricitybills.Thegrandtotaloverthe10monthsthey'velivedinthethree-bedroomhouse:$75.Forthepasttwomonthstheyhaven'tpaidacent.ZEHcommunitiesaretheleadingedgeofthatmightsomedaycreatehousesthatproduceasmuchenergyastheyconsume.Gardensisoneofahalf-dozensubdivisionsinCaliforniawhereeveryhomecutspowerconsumptionby50%,mostlybyusinglow-powerappliancesandsolarpanels.Asidefromthepanelsontheroof,Gardenslookslikeacommunityofconventionalhomes.Butinside,specialwindowscutpowerbillsbyblockingsolarheatinsummerandretainingindoorwarmthinwinter.TherestoftheenergysavingscomesfromthesolarunitsTheydon'tjustfeedthehometheyserveIftheygeneratemorepowerthanthehomeisusingtheexcessflowsintotheutility'spowergrid(電網(wǎng)).Theresidentsarebilledby"netmetering":theypayfortheamountofpowertheytapoffthegrid,lessthekilowatts千瓦theyfeedintoitIfahomegeneratesmorepowerthanituses,thebilliszero.Thatsoundslikeabaddealforthepower,butit'snot.Solarhomesproducethemostpoweronthehotsunnyafternoonswheneveryonerusheshometoturnuptheairconditioner."Ithelpsuslowerusageatpeakpowertimes,"sayssolarexpertMikeKeesee."Thatletsusavoidbuildingcostlyntsorbuyingexpensivepoweratpeakusagetime."What'snottolike?Mostlythecosts.Thespecialfeaturescanadd$25000ormoretothepurchasepriceofahouse.Taxbreaksbringthecostdown,especiallyinCalifornia,butinstatesZEHscanbeprohibitivelyexpensive.Fortheconsumer,it'samatterofpayingnowforthehardwaretosavelaterontheutilities.2WhyaretheGataiseagertoseetheirelectricitybillsTheywanttoseehowmuchtheyhaveTheywanttocutdowntheirutilityTheywanttoknowiftheyareabletoTheywanttoavoidbeingWhatisspecialabouttheZEHTheyhavecreatedcutting-edgeTheyaimtobeself-sufficientinpowerTheyaresubdividedintohalfadozenTheyarebuiltinharmonywiththeHowaretheresidentsintheZEHcommunitiesbilledforelectricityTheyareonlychargedfortheamountofpowertheyconsumeonrainyTheyneedn'tpayasinglecentfortheirpowerconsumptiononsunnyTheyonlypayfortheexcesspowerthatflowsintotheutility'spowerTheypayfortheelectricityfromthegridlesstheirhome-generatedWhatdoesthe"netmetering"practicemeantothepowerMorepressureatpeakLessprofitsintheshortIncreasedelectricityReducedoperationalTheauthorbelievesthatbuyingahouseinaZEHcommunity isbutadreamforaveragegivestheownersubstantialtaxisaworthyinvestmentinthelongcontributestoenvironmentalPassageQuestions62to66arebasedonthefollowingRomanticlovehasclearevolutionaryrootsbutourviewsaboutwhatmakesanidealromanticrelationshipcanbeswayedbythesocietywelivein.SosayspsychologistMaureenO'SullivanfromtheUniversityofSanFrancisco.Shesuggeststhathumanshavealwaystriedtostrengthenthepair-bondtoise(使最大化)reproductivesuccess.Manysocietiesthroughouthistoryandaroundtheworldtodayhavecultivatedstrongtostaymarried.Inthosewheretiestofamilyandcommunityarestrong,lifelongmarriagescanbepromotedbypracticessuchastheculturalprohibitionofdivorceandarrangedmarriagesthatareseenasacontractbetweentwofamilies,notjusttwoindividuals.Inmodernwesternsocieties,however,thefocusonindividualityandindependencemeansthatpeoplearelessconcernedaboutconformingto(遵守)thedictatesoffamilyandculture.Intheabsenceofsocietalpressurestomaintainpair-bonds,O'Sullivansuggeststhatromanticlovehasincreasinglycometobeseenasthefactorthatshoulddeterminewhowestaywithandforhowlong.That'swhyhistoricallyweseeanincreaseinromanticloveasabasisforforminglong-termrelationships,"shesays.AccordingtoO'Sullivanculturealsoshapesthesortsoffeelingsweexpecttohave,andactuallydoexperience,wheninlove.Althoughthenegativeemotionsassociatedwithromanticlove-fearof"IfyouaskJapanesestudentstolistthepositiveattributestheyexpectinaromanticpartner,theyratehighlythingslikeloyalty,commitmentanddevotion,"saysO'Sullivan."IfyouaskAmericancollegewomen,theyexpecteverythingunderthesuit:inadditiontobeingcommitted,partnershavetobeamusing,funnyandafriend."Wejudgeapotentialpartneraccordingtoourspecificculturalexpectationsaboutwhatromanticloveshouldfeellike.Ifyoubelievethatyouhavefoundtrueromance,andyourculturelsyouthatthisiswhatalong-termrelationshipshouldbebasedon,thereislessneedtorelyonsocialorfamilypressurestokeepcouplestogether.O'SullivanWhatdoestheauthorsayaboutpeople'sviewsofanidealromanticTheyvaryfromculturetoTheyensurethereproductiveTheyreflecttheevolutionaryTheyareinfluencedbyWecaninferfromthepassagethatstrongfamilyandcommunityties largelyrelyonmarriagecancontributetostableoftenruncountertoromanticmakedivorcesvirtuallyWithoutsocialpressurestokeeppair-bonds,romanticlove willbeasubstituteformarriageinhumanysakeyroleinmaintaininglong-termislikelytorecethedictatesoffamilyandisawaytodevelopindividualityandO'Sullivanbelievesthatwhenpeoplefromdifferentculturesfallinlove, theyexpectdifferentthingsfromtheirtheytendtoexaggerateeachother'spositivetheyoftenfailtoseeeachother'snegativetheylaymoreemphasisoncommitmentandWecanconcludefromthepassagethat culturaldifferencesoftentearapartafamilybuiltonromanticmarriagesarchardtosustainwithoutsocialorfamilyromanticlove ingincreasinglyimportantinfamilyromanticlovetendstoyieldwherefamilyorsocialpressuresarePartVCloze(15Directions:Thereare20blanksinthefollowingpassage.ForeachblanktherearefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD)ontherightsideofthepaper.YoushouldchoosetheONEthatbestfitsintothepassage.ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.UKhouseholdsarecuttingbackonspendingatthefastestratesince1980.Thisis67totheworsteconomicslowdowninthreedecades.FiguresfromtheOfficeforNationalStatistics(ONS)showed68spendingfellby1.2%inthefirstthreemonthsoftheyear.Peoplespentlessonhousing,householdgoodsandservices,69thosewhowentonholidayabroadalsospent70Consumerstightenedtheirbelts71thefaceofjoblosses,pay72orzesandsharplyreducedCitybonuses.Thefiguresshowedemployees'73fallingby1.1%inthequarter,thelargestfall74recordsbeganin1955.Wagesandsalariesdeclined,75lowerbonuspaymentsinthefinancialsectorthannormal,while76alsofell.Thedatawas77aspartof